Expert thought

In view of the restrictive 2018 Luhansk People’s Republic statute, it is not surprising that some groups declined to apply for registration, while others were refused. The result is that many religious communities find themselves outside the law…. the 48 Baptist Union congregations have had to cease their activity altogether.

Religious Studies

In the context of recent events in the Orthodox world, disputes over the boundaries of church institutions often arise between the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Kyiv and Moscow. Ukraine accuses Russia of misappropriating the territory of the Kyiv Metropolis. In its turn, Moscow appeals to the fact that the ancient Kyiv Metropolis differs from the territory of modern Ukraine. RISU decided to clarify this topic, getting advice from historians. Based on this research, we prepared an infographic.

The first question that arises concerning Ukraine is this: with what right and based on which holy canons, does Russia today claim the ecclesiastical and administrative dependency of the Metropolis of Kyiv?

FSB framed up a case of putting on fire the Crimean Mufti’s house to bring discredit to the Medjlis

The leader of the Crimean Tatars, MP of Ukraine Mustafa Dzhemilev claims that the criminal case against Yerol Veliyev whom Russian FSB charged with extremism, who is an assistant to Dzhemilev, was framed up by Russian FSB investigators in order to bring discredit to the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

Dzhemilev made such a statement to a journalist of Krym.Realii, commenting on the search and detention of Akhtem Mustafayev in Bakhchisarai, who was interrogated in the case of Veliyev.

Mustafa Dzhemilev stressed that his assistant had no relation to the arson of the Crimean Mufti’s house, as the FSB alleges.

“There is a certain purpose there. Last April, The Hague International Court clearly ordered Russia to lift the ban on the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, as well as to my and Refat Chubarov's entry to Crimea. Russia has not fulfilled any of the requirements. They are demanding Russia how it will fulfill the above requirements. And to justify their actions, they collect evidence, say: you see, they are terrorists, look what they are doing. We cannot lift the ban,” said Dzhemilev.

Lawyer Edem Semedliaev said on June 29 that Akhtem Mustafayev, who was detained after a search in Bakhchisarai on June 28 and later released after interrogation, is witnessing a case of Yerol Veliyev who faces extremism charges brought by the Russian FSB.

On June 28, a Crimean Tatar activist, Zair Smedlyaev, reported that a search took place in Bakhchisarai at the house of Akhtem Mustafayev, a driver of Safinar, the wife of Mustafa Dzhemilev, leader of the leader of the Crimean Tatar people. Later it was reported that the security forces took Akhtem away in an unknown direction.

The FSB of Russia stated that they allegedly suspended the activity of the extremist group in Crimea, organized by the MP of Ukraine Mustafa Dzhemilev’s assistant, Yerol Veliyev “on the instructions of Refat Chubarov with the support of the SBU”.

According to the Russian intelligence service, “the group formed in Kharkiv, apart from Veliyev, included the former sportsmen – boxers Steshenko and Tretyakov.”

The FSB says that “members of the extremist community in January 2018, using the bottles with an inflammatory mixture, burned the house of the Mufti of the Crimea, Emirali Ablayev.”

The FSB claims that Steshenko was detained in April 2018 “when entering the Crimean territory, where he was directed by Veliyev to design and commit provocative acts.” Russia has brought charges against Veliyev and Tretyakov in absentia, they are put on the federal wanted list.